Feld Officially Enters NY Senate Race Against Oppenheimer

Westchester GOP & Conservative Parties Endorse Feld

by Judy Silberstein

(May 28, 2008) It’s official: Larchmont’s mayor,
Liz Feld, 47, announced she is running for NY Senate in the 37th District
against 12-term incumbent Suzi Oppenheimer, 73. (See: Mayor
Feld Weighing Run Against Senator Oppenheimer.) The Westchester Republican
and Conservative parties each endorsed Ms. Feld; she accepted the GOP
nod at their convention on Tuesday, May 27.

In an echo of the US presidential race, both the challenger
and the incumbent are positioning themselves as the candidate for change
in Albany.

“Albany’s irresponsible spending habits are
squeezing the life out of Westchester County and middle-class families
cannot take it anymore,” said Ms. Feld, who was elected to her second
term as mayor without opposition this March. (See: VOL
Election: Small Turnout, Long Wait for Results.) “As a mother,
a mayor, and a Westchester taxpayer, I can no longer wait for the promised
reforms in state government that never come, so today I announce my candidacy
for state senate to do something about it,” she declared on Tuesday.

Ms. Oppenheimer responded, “For 79 years (with the
exception of 9 months in the 1960s) the Republicans have controlled the
Senate – and my opponent is the chosen candidate of Joe Bruno, the
Republican head of the Senate. She will represent the status quo.”
Ms. Oppenheimer added, “Real change and real reform will come in
November when the Democrats are expected to win the Senate.”

Currently, the Democrats are in control of the governorship
and the Assembly (by a healthy 106 to 42). The Republicans hold 32 seats
to the Democrats 30 in the Senate. In the 37th Senate District, as of
March, 2008, Democrats outnumber Republicans by 75,386* to 45,077 but
an additional 42,656 are unaffiliated with any party. (*Figures corrected
on October 8, 2008)

Ms. Feld sees herself as a “moderate and independent-minded
Republican” in the mold of NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg. She said, “people
of all parties want property tax relief; they want their share of school
aid, and they want bi-partisan solutions.” Effecting change will
require "fresh enthusiasm and a sense of urgency in Albany,"
she said, but "we cannot keep electing the same people to public
office year after year after year and expect different results.”

Ms. Oppenheimer, a former mayor of Mamaroneck Village, is
stressing her “very significant leadership role” as chair
of the Senate Education Committee, which she would assume if the Democrats
win the majority. “Most people around the state feel we will take
the majority – it’s not pie in the sky – it will happen,”
she said. As chair, she would “try to protect Westchester as far
as I can,” while still carrying out the state mandate, looking to
alternative ways to finance education and working closely to limit mandates
that are not funded.

Local Support for the Candidates

In Larchmont, Ms. Feld has an interesting relationship with the two major
political parties. Elected first as a Larchmont Village trustee in 2000
with the support of the local Republican Party establishment, she went
on to challenge the incumbent Republican mayor, Ken Bialo, losing the
GOP endorsement but winning the election in 2006. (Feld-Kolbert-Millstein
Coalition Sweeps Village Election.)

Since that election, the Larchmont Village Republican Party infrastructure
has collapsed. The last caucus was attended by only a handful of voters
and she was the only nominee. Although not endorsed by the Democrats,
they also did not run anyone against her. The Democrats’ two candidates
for trustee, Marlene Kolbert and Jim Millstein, ran with Ms. Feld on a
coalition ticket, as they had in 2006.

Fellow Republican Phil Johanson, who was briefly the chair of the Larchmont
GOP, resigned recently, citing business and personal pressures. He enthusiastically
endorsed Ms. Feld: “I think she’s done a great job. If she
can make progress up the chain, then that’s just great.”

Not surprisingly, Mr. Bialo expressed greater enthusiasm for Ms. Oppenheimer
than for Ms. Feld. “In my 15 years as an elected official dealing
with Senator Suzi Oppenheimer from across the political aisle, I have
found her to be a person of integrity, who is respectful and open to different
points of view,” he commented by e-mail. “On the other side,
it is hard to see how loyal Republicans could support Liz Noyer Feld,”
he added, noting the demise of the previously “robust” local
party.

On the Larchmont Village board, Ms. Feld serves with four trustees who
ran as Democrats - two who are supporting her and two who are remaining
noncommittal at this point. “I do support her for this,” said
Trustee Richard Ward. “I think she’s been very effective as
mayor and I believe she offers the 37th District an immense reservoir
of drive and creativity. “ Trustee Jim Millstein was equally straight
forward: “Yes she definitely has my support,” he said. “Based
on her track record I think she’s well deserving. Anyone who stands
up and says ‘Albany needs changing and I’m going to change
it,’ either has a screw loose or deserves our support – or
both.”

Trustee Anne McAndrews noted, “I work with Liz day-to-day on Village
business, but I’m a registered Democrat, so I’ll be on the
sidelines for this race.” Trustee Marlene Kolbert would only say:
“Liz has been an outstanding mayor of Larchmont and Suzi has been
my friend and colleague for over 30 years.”

Over on the Mamaroneck Town Board, Supervisor Valerie O’Keeffe,
a Republican was also keeping her comments to a minimum: “As is
my custom I plan to support the Republican nominee.”

Councilman David Fishman, a Democrat, was more forthcoming in his support
of Ms. Feld. “As I’ve had my initial year here working in
municipal service, I’ve encountered no one with more energy for
the issues that I care about than Liz.” His issues included promoting
property revaluation, consolidation of services to improve efficiencies
and commitment to young athletes, as evidenced by developments in Flint
Park.

Ms. Oppenheimer had the unqualified backing of the other three Democratic
council members. “I’m definitely supporting Suzi – of
course I support Suzi,” said Councilwoman Phyllis Wittner. “In
my mind it’s a no brainer,” said Mr. Odierna. “Suzie
has earned our respect and continued support.”

"I lean towards Suzi because she’s a Democrat and I hope
the Senate will become a Democratic majority,” said Councilwoman
Nancy Seligson. “I think that would be really beneficial to the
state, so we could make some real headway.”

Supporters of both candidates were also enthusiastic at the idea of a
hotly contested election.

“Suzi hasn’t had an opponent for a long time, so it’s
probably a good opportunity for her, in a way,” said Ms. Seligson.
“It’s always good for the electorate to have a choice,"
said Mr. Odierna.

Mr. Millstein noted, "At a minimum the people of Southern Westchester
will have an opportunity to have someone focus their attention on how
badly screwed up Albany is.”